Sorting desk



July 3, 1928. 1,675,454

s. A. HARRISON SORTING' DESK FiledSept. 20, 1924 r 5AMUEL A. HARE/SON Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL A. HARRISON, 01 L08 .A.NGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SORTING DESK.

Application filed September 20, 1924. Serial No. 738,936.

My invention relates to sorting desks of the character embodied in my United States Patent No. 868,434, dated October 15, 1907, and a purpose of my present invention the provision of a sorting desk having simple and inexpensive means for securely holding each shelf in any position of adjustment to allow varying in size of the pigeonholes formed by the shelves and to the elimination of the expensive pawls and racks embodled in my patent.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a sorting desk including a receptacle designed for the reception of large stacks of mail or newspapers, and a drawer in which the mail is deposited prior to sorting. The receptacle is accommodated in the drawer, and the two are provided with cooperating surfaces which prevent letters or other forms of mail falling or working between the receptacle and drawer and thus being lost.

I will describe only one form of sorting desk embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view showing in front elevation and partly in section one form of sorting desk embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the desk shown in the preceding views;

Figure 1 is a detail perspective View of one of the shelves embodied in the desk shown in the preceding views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a table having a top 15 supported in elevated position by means of legs 16 arranged at the four corners of the top. Upon the table top and at the rear thereof is supported a cabinet including a back 17, a top 18 and a bottom 19. Vertically disposed partitions 20 connect the top, bottom and back, and these partitions are spaced apart in parallelism as clearly shown in Figure 1, to provide therebetween compartments 21. Upon the confronting sides of any two adjacent partitions 20 grooves 22 are formed at frequent and corresponding intervals, and these grooves are substantially (Io-extensive in width with the partitions so as to provide means for removably and slidably receiving shelves 23.

The width of each shelf 23 is such as to span adjacent partitions 20, and it will be noted that each compartment 21 is provided with a plurality of shelves which are adapted to co-operate with each other and with the partitions in forming pigeonholes in which mail is adapted to be deposited. As the shelves are removably fitted in the partitions through the medium of the grooves, it will be clear that each shelf can be adusted vertically along the partitions, and by such adjustment the pigeonholes can be varied in size to accommodate various quantities of mail.

Each partition, as shown in Figure 4:, is constructed in a manner similar to the partitions embodied in my patent hereinbefore referred to, and, as shown, the partition is formed at its forward end with a pocket 24 in which is received a name card or plate 24. This artition at its opposite end is upturne to form a lip 25 which facilitates the removal of letters from the corresponding pigeonhole by engaging the back edges of the envelopes as the partition is withdrawn to insure the withdrawal of the letters from the pigeonhole.

Beneath the bottom 19 of the cabinet a compartment 26 is formed by arranging a partition 27 in spaced parallelism beneath the bottom 19, as shown in Figure 2. This compartment 26 is designed for the purpose of receiving miscellaneous mail bearing the same general address as the mail deposited in the pigeonholes of the corresponding compartment 21, and the compartment 26 1s provided with a door 29 hingedly supported upon the bottom 19 and normally closing the outer end of the compartment. This door is provided with pockets 30 in which name cards or plates may be inserted.

As shown in Figure 2, the table top 15 serves to support a receptacle R in depending relation thereto, such receptacle being provided for the purpose of receiving large stacks of mail or newspapers and divided through the medium of intersecting partitions 31 into a plurality of relativel deep compartments 32. The table top 15 is ormed with openings through which access is had to the several compartments 32 for the purpose of withdrawing mail therefrom, and these openings are controlled by hinged doors 33 formed with slots 34 through which letters can be deposited into the compartments.

For the purpose of providing means for receiving the mail preparatory to assorting, I have provided a'drawer D mounted for sliding movement beneath the table top 15 and in such manner as to receive the rece tacle R. It will be noted that the drawer is without a back so that it can be withdrawn to the projected osition shown in dash lines in Figure 2, an in which position the unassorted mail can be deposited into the drawer prior to the setting u of the same. In order to prevent letters ii'om secreting themselves between the walls of the drawer and receptacle, I have, as clearly shown in- Figure 1, undulated the surfaces of the drawer and receptacle, such undulations in the present instance being in the form of flutes 35, and the flutes of the drawer being complemental to the flutes of the rece tacle so as to provide irregular spaces whic prevent the letters from being deposited therein, as will be understood. By virtue of the fact that the flutes are complemental the slidin movement of the drawer is not interfere with. 1

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of sorting desk embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and sco of the appended claims.

1. A sorting desk comprising a table having a top supported in e evated position, a receptacle secured to and dependin from the table top and divided interior y into compartments, and a drawer slidable beneath the table top and receiving the receptacle.

2. In a sorting desk, a drawer supported for sliding movement, a receptacle supported within but independently of the drawer, and means on the walls of the drawer and receptacle by which mail is prevented from being secreted between the two.

3. In a sorting desk, a drawer supported for sliding movement, a receptacle supported within but independently of the drawer, and means on the walls of the drawer and receptacle by which mail is prevented from being secreted between the two, comprising undulated surfaces formed on the walls of the drawer and receptacle.

4. A sorting desk comprising a table includin a top, a receptacle secured to and depen ing from the top and having partitions providi compartments, said table top formed wit opemngs to provide access to the compartments, doors controlling said openings and having slots through which mail may be deposited into the com artments, and a drawer slidably mounted beneath the table top, said drawer havin the receptacle extending thereinto and eing movable independently thereof and adapted to be respectivel partly and. completely withdrawn from eath said table top.

SAMUEL A. HARRISON. 

